As the very first character seen on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Julie Benz instantly made an impression as the vampire Darla. For the next 8 television seasons, she would get to show many different facets of the role, as not even dying (twice!) could keep Darla from being an important part of the story and mythos behind Buffy and the spinoff series Angel, the latter of which allowed Benz to greatly expand her character.

This year, Benz's new show Dexter premiered on Showtime, and quickly proved to be one of the most imaginative and compelling series on the air. Benz plays Rita, the girlfriend to the title character Dexter (Six Feet Under's Michael C. Hall), who just so happens to be a serial killer; though one who preys on other criminals and murderers. Rita meanwhile is a woman trying to get past an abusive marriage, and is unaware that the great new guy in her life has quite the body count going.

With the season finale of Dexter about to air, I spoke to Benz for an exclusive chat with IGN, to talk about her experiences making her terrific new show, along with a discussion about her time playing Darla on Buffy and Angel. Benz also voiced Miranda Keyes in Halo 2, and with Halo 3 on the horizon, we talked about her experience working on that game and whether she'll be a part of Halo 3.

IGN TV: When you first heard the storyline of Dexter, what did you think?

Julie Benz: When they sent me the script, I didn't really know anything about it, except they said, "We have an audition for you tomorrow, here's the script." And I read the script, and I thought, "This is one of the best pilot scripts I've ever read. And I'll never be a part of it, because they'll never want me!" It was so good. So yeah, I just thought it was absolutely amazing.

IGN TV: Dexter is such a fascinating character, because you find yourself sympathizing with him or rooting for him, but then you remember what he is. Do you think of him as sympathetic?

Benz: I do! I mean, in watching the show, I think you can't help but start rooting for him, and it's a really bizarre feeling you're left with, when you find yourself rooting for a guy who's a serial killer. But he's trying to do right! [Laughs] I mean he is trying to live by a moral code.

IGN TV: How is it working with Michael?

Benz: He's the most intelligent actor I've ever worked with, as far as understanding the material and the character and the scripts on a whole. Not just from a selfish standpoint, but from a whole overall theme and vision standpoint. He's a very generous actor as well. I was intimidated at first, because I was such a big fan of his from Six Feet Under, and it's hard to go, "Oh my god, I can't believe I'm working with him!" I had to get past that.

Julie Benz

IGN TV: What's it been like for you playing Rita and portraying someone with such a big protective bubble around herself, that she slowly starts to let go of?

Benz: I guess Rita's just the more vulnerable side of me. I didn't really feel that I had to do anything, except be relaxed enough to tap into that vulnerability, and really just live off of what Michael gives me, which is amazing.

IGN TV: As the season has gone on and Rita and Dexter have grown closer, you've had some pretty intimate scenes. Did you figure going in, "Okay, this is cable&#Array; We might end up doing some naughty stuff"?

Benz: Yeah, I mean it is a concern when you sign on to do any show really. But I felt those scenes we had to do, where there was some nudity involved, it was integral to the script and it was not gratuitous. They shot it beautifully. There is a little bit of hesitation, but for me, the script was so good and Rita is such an amazing character that I was not going to let that stand in my way of playing the part. And they have held up their end of the bargain, which was not [to have me] gratuitously just walking around naked, but it was an integral part of the script and story.

IGN TV: Because of the part she plays in Dexter's life, it's obviously built in to the role that you're not around for the police investigation stuff on the show. Is it strange having several costars you've never worked with yet?

Benz: [Laughs] Yes, because we all get along so well! We see each other at parties and it's like, "Oh my god! I can't believe we're in the same show!" We laugh about it. There was a scene written where I was going to be working with some of the other actors and it was taken out. I forget which episode it was. I was so excited, but then, you know&#Array; I see everybody at the table readings, and we get together for the show. But it actually makes it great when I watch the show, because the whole Ice Truck Killer storyline I was not involved in and did not get to see how it played out. So it was very exciting for me to get to watch, and really watch it as an audience member, and not as somebody involved in the show.

IGN TV: Do you ever get to see the sets for the crime scenes or the crazy body part props they have on the show?

Benz: Not really. I mean, I could if I wanted to, but they usually shoot those on the days I'm not there.